Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-15
CIRCUMCYCLED THE WORLD.
Stevens. the King Of Wheelmen.
HE TELLS THE STORY OF ADVENTURES THAT BEFELl
HIM ON HIS PERILoUs JOURNEY.

HE TELLS THE STORY OF ADVENTURES THAT BEFELL
HIN ON HIS PERILoUs JOURNEY.
The Citizens Bicycle club, of New York, gave
reception last night at its house in west Goth street
to Thomas Stevens who has lust returned from
his trip around the world on a bicycle. The New
York World says: Mr. Stevens is under the me-
dunn height, but stoutly built He has dark
complexion, gray eyes brown mustache, and a
pleasant but resolute face. He left San Francisco
on his wheel early in April. 1884 and wheeled
across this continent to Boston where he arrived
in OCTOBER or the same year. In April, 1885, he
sailed from this city for England, and wheeled
from Liverpool to New Haven, near Dover Thence
he crossed the English channel to Calais and
wheeled tnrougn france, south Germany, Austria,
Hungary. Serv1a. Bulgaria, Roumelia and Euro
pean Turkey, to ConstantinOple. From Constanti-
nople his route was through Asia Minor and Persia
1885, and remained there until March, 1886. when
he started on journey through Afghanistan to
India Ihe BRUSH authorities were DESTROYS OF
preventing MS ride through Afghanistan, not from
political reasons, as has been generally supposed
but because the Afghans are very fanatical espe-
cially against christians and it was feared that he
would be murdered. He took his departure very
quietly from Teheran however and crossed the
Afghan frontier about three hundred miles away
from the usual route to Herat. Within 800 miles
of the Indian frontier he was arrested and carried
back to Herat, whence he returned to the Caspian
Russian authorities, regarding him as a probable
spy, had prevented him from riding through Tur-
keStan.
From Constantinople Mr.. Stevens went to Egypt.
and crossing that country by rail embarked on the
Red Sea, landed in India, wheeled up to the nearest
possible point on the Indian frontier to the place
where he had been stopped in Afghanistan. and
thence down to Calcutta. Proceeding from Cal
cutta to Canton by steamer he started to wheel
across China towards Japan but after travelling
500 miles his progress was Sumlnar1ly interrupted
at town called kingan-foo on the Kan-Kiang,
where mob OF 1000 Celestials, armed with clubs
and stones, assailed him and two soldiers who had
been sent with him as guard. He escaped a
violent death by rushing into the Yamen, or
official Enclosure of the town, to which his guards
directed him. He was struck about the BODY and
badly bruised by a number OF the missiles, but a
heavy Indian helmet which he wore protected his
head and neck. He was spirited out OF the Yamen
in the night time by the authorities and placed
upon a boat, by which he descended the KAN
k1ang to Its junction with the great river OF China,
the 1ang-tSe-kfng, where he took a steamer to
Shanghai. From Shanghai he crossed to Maya
saki, in Japan, and wheeled across the island to
Yokohama, where he embarked for San Fran
cisco. He arrived in San Francisco on January
last, having made the circuit OF the world in
about two years and nine months
Mr.. stevens related these particulars OF his Jour
ney to a World reporter last night and told some
other interesting things besides He was cordi-
ally received by wheelmen throughout Europe as
far as East Bulgaria, and was an object of atten-
ton to both press anu populace. Wheelmen fire.
quently Joined him along the way and kept him
PeSth the bicycle club there received him cOrdi-
ally and sent representative with him on his de-
parture who accompanied him for nine miles, At
wheelmen'S club which also welcomed him and
sent member to journey with him to the frontier
OF Bulgaria. After leaving Servia he saw no more
wheenen until he reached India. His appearance
In Turkey was a cause OF great wOnderment to the
people, who hOcked TO the roadside TO see him. At
AngOra, In Asia Minor, he dined by invitation with
the governor, who also issued proclamation call
ing ~ the people TO come out and witness his
departure. The town contains about 20, 600 in
habitantS, and over five thousand assembled in
response to the governors proclamation. He
found the Turks very hOSpitable and generally
well disposed. One day, however, two koords,
the nOmads OF Asia Minor, attempted to rob him
the road, but the production OF his revolver put
them to fight. Before leaving COnstantinoplehe
took the precaution to have a number OF gold
Turkish coins covered with cloth and sewed on his
clothing as buttons to provide against the robbery
OF his money wallet. In China he found the people
very i'll disported. They gave him wrong direc-
lions and regarded him with evident suspicion. In
addition to their general dislike OF foreigners they
were particularly excited at that time over the
French operations in TOnquin and suspected him,
he believes, of being French spy. He found no
difficulty, however, in getting accommodation at
night tlme as the country is full OF little inns and
his passports from the Chinese authorities at Can
ton made it compulsory on the inn-keepers to re-
ceive him. The cost of nights lodging with sup
per and breakfast IS TO chinaman about 10 cents,
but the innkeeperS charged him 80 cents. The
vlandS furnished at these lnnS chiefly rice fish
and pork, which Is the staple meat OF the country.